Hello People.

Here's my dilemma. I was in the city walking along goulburn street when I see a couple arguing. The guy was screaming obsenities to his girlfriend and she was in tears. So I asked: "Are you two alright!?" The guy started screaming at me: "DOES SHE LOOK ALRIGHT!?" and continues to agressively put her down. (Looked like he was going to punch someone). So I felt bad for being nosey.

Anyway....today I saw a down syndrome girl walking along the street alone crying! I thought I decent person would stop to ask her if she's okay, but this time I chose to keep walking and mind my own business. I felt like trash for just walking past. Later I saw her at the bus stop and she wasn't crying anymore.

What's people's take on situations like these? When you see someone distressed in the street should you stop and ask them how they are...or just mind your own business? There's been stories where there were big fights and punch ups between people, then an outsider tries to stop the fight and ends up with brain damage. Is it wise to mind your own business? It seems it's getting this way in this day and age.

Either mind your own business or be prepared to fight.
You could always dial '000' and wait around for a while to see if anything happens.

Well, I would say there is a good chance that a single person crying on their own is not in much immediate danger, and possibly is going to head to a place of comfort. They might not be, or they might be lost, or something, or they might be really emotionally distressed. I reckon I would be prepared for a situation where someone was lost or whatever, but I think I am unequipped to help out with more complex problems if I don't know the person. So, for a single person, it's probably okay to offer directions or some comfort, but you probably can't provide much else, especially in the short run. If they don't like you asking, not much will happen, they'll still be sad but probably not sadder.

With two people, though ... I remember in Melbourne a guy was dragging a woman into a cab by her hair and someone intervened - and that person got shot and killed. So it is definitely worth assessing the safety of the situation first, and weighing up your abilities against probable reactions.

Even the simplest situations can change unexpectedly or have unforseen consequences.
I remember stepping back to allow a young woman to enter a bank before me and she snapped "I don't need men to let me go first".
I replied, sweetly, that I was careful of who was behind my back.

Had she been bigger she probably would have hit me.